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Hemihekte
| Issuer | Kyzikos |
|---|---|
| Year | 600 BC - 550 BC |
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| Composition | Log in to see details |
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| Reference(s) | Von Fritze#22 |
| Obverse description | Forepart of a tunny fish (tunny being the civic badge of Kyzikos) to the right, rendered in archaic relief with strongly stylized, striated fins and a boldly modeled head. The design occupies the full flan in the characteristic Kyzikene manner, with no legend or inscription. The plastic, high-relief carving reflects the vigorous archaic Greek engraving tradition of the late seventh to early sixth century BC. |
|---|---|
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| Edge | Plain |
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| Additional information |
Kyzikos was among the most prolific producers of electrum coinage in the ancient Greek world, and its issues circulated far beyond the Propontis region — found in hoards across Thrace, the Black Sea coast, and even Mesopotamia. The city's electrum was sourced from Lydian trade networks, and its natural gold-silver alloy ratio was not standardized, meaning the precise composition varied between strikes.
Von Fritze's classification of this hemihekte places it among the earliest Kyzikene denominations, predating the city's more famous stater series.